Fractal wrote:in some books, i read that

e.g. ask requires the subjunctive mood!

somewhere else, i read that

e.g. ask can be used with the subjunctive mood or with "to verb"

could anybody clarify this matter?

thx a lot

Use of the Subjunctive

We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

wants to happen
hopes will happen
imagines happening
Look at these examples:

The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.
The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:

the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest + that
the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that

Here are some examples with the subjunctive:

The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.

thanks for your response!

my question was just, if "ask" ALWAYS requires the subjunctive mood, or if it can also be use with "to verb".

As far as I understand your answer, you say that "ask" ALWAYS requires the subjunctive mood? E.g. E-GMAT says something else...

Hi Fractal,

This is a topic that has been quite debated on this forum with many expert replies. You should also check out the following post on BTG at https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/ ... ou-do-well. This article also states the same that "ask" can be used both with subjunctive and with to verb.

Hence, e-gmat is correct when it states that 'ask' can be used both with subjunctive and with "to verb". I have seen same information in MGMAT SC Bible as well. I have seen that in certain areas, GMAT English is slightly different from "English". For example: in the context of subjunctive verb itself, this website indicates use of should as subjunctive in British English. However, we know that GMAT considers this incorrect.

https://www.englishpage.com/minitutorial ... ctive.html


Coming back to subjunctive verb - Since it requires some memorization, this is how I have learned the concept. The important thing to note with subjunctive verb is that certain bossy words REQUIRE use of only subjunctive verbs. So I have learned that list as provided in the concept at e-gmat. Then there are certain verbs that DO NOT USE subjunctive. I have memorized that list. For the verbs that can use either subjunctive or to verb, I have just noted them down.


Also, I found the pre and post assessment at quizzes of the e-GMAT Subjunctive concept to be helpful to drive home the point.


Hope this helps.